It has been awhile since I’ve written about anything here, and those who are on Facebook know I’ve spent the majority of my time there in the Rangers Fan Group.  I still keep up with the uniform number history part of my website, but most of the other ones are archival.   However, from time to time, I get the urge to write about something, and that’s today.

The 2015 season is over.  It ended QUITE ugly.  No Ranger fan will deny that.   The formal off season starts I believe it is two days after the World Series ends when players eligible for free agency can file for that.   Given where we were expected to be when the season started (and especially after 2014), to say we got into the playoffs was a major accomplishment.  The way we exited the playoffs was bad.  No doubt.  But thoughts turn to 2016, and I decided to take a look down the Rangers roster and offer a few thoughts on everyone and what I think will happen for next season.

Coaches

Earlier today (Oct 16, 2015) it was announced that bullpen coach Andy Hawkins and hitting coach Dave Magadan are not returning for 2016.

Dave Magadan:  Magadan is not a huge surprise, as there were some profound streaks where we weren’t hitting well.  There were parts where we were, but you never got the feeling he completely jelled with the team.  He was actually NOT asked to return.  Obviously who replaces him becomes the immediate question, but I don’t think an instant answer is necessary here.  Who would you replace him with?  My gut feeling says the answer is not known, but my wishlist guy to replace him is Rusty “do you know your numbers” Greer.

I’ve seen a lot of noise lately about bringing Rudy Jaramillo back.  As far as I know, he’s not active in baseball anymore, but even if he was…  People tend to remember Jaramillo from his glory days.  They tend to forget the last 3-4 years he WAS here, folks wanted to throw him out for guys not hitting. Then he went to the Cubs and did nothing there.  Just having him back doesn’t guarantee a thing.  Need to look FORWARD, not backwards.

Andy Hawkins: Andy Hawkins actually resigned himself.  He’d been around for some time now, and previous to today was the longest tenured coach on the team.  He started as the pitching coach on Aug 1, 2008, under Ron Washington.  He then moved to the bullpen, and has been there since.  Officially, he resigned to pursue “other opportunities”.  I’m guessing that’s code for “Don’t want to stay here”.  Who replaces him also is not a decision that needs to be made instantly.  If I had my way, I’d have John Wetteland as the bullpen coach.

The remainder of the coaches were asked to return in 2016.  Barring someone taking the manager’s job for the Washington Nationals (only vacant mgr job at the moment), I have a feeling everyone else will be back.

Players

Here’s every player on the current 40 man roster (plus a few who are technically not, like the 60 man roster guys).  This is current, as nobody can be dumped yet – the season isn’t technically over (as tonight the Championship series get started).   Also, the “minimum wage” in Major League Baseball in 2015 was $507,500.  If you see a guy with that below, that’s the LEAST you can make.

Pitchers

Anthony Bass

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($750,000)
• How acquired: Free Agent on Dec 11, 2014
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: He was serviceable in 2015.  I wouldn’t say he was the biggest lights out guy, but a decent cog in the bullpen.  64IP, 3.73 ERA, 66H, 32ER.  Could be back in 2016, depending on whom else we bring in or retain.

Jake Diekman

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($535,500)
• How acquired: Via trade from Phillies with Cole Hamels & $ for Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson, Nick Williams, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, & Matt Harrison on Jul 31, 2015.
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration eligible, not eligible for free agency till 2019
• Remarks: Jake Diekman came over with Cole Hamels, and other than the first outing (which was probably him being tired and nerves), he’s been awesome for us.  Given he’s under control for several more seasons, expect him to be on next year’s roster

Sam Dyson

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Acquired via trade from Marlins for Cody Ege & Tomas Telis on July 31, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, not arb eligible until 2018, free agent in 2021.
• Remarks: Sam was a steal.  Given who we gave up to get him, I’m a little unclear why the Marlins wanted to part with him.  Anyway, he is under total team control for the next two seasons, so he’ll be back.  You need “cheap” guys to offset the expensive ones, and if the cheap ones are good? So much the better.  :)

Andrew Faulkner

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Rangers 2011 draft pick, 14th round
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, not arbitration eligible for quite some time. :)
• Remarks: Made his major league debut in 2015.   Got into 11 games, threw 9.2 IP, and had an ERA of 4.69.  Gave up 3ER in all that, so not horrible.  Not a huge enough sampling, though.  Could be back depending on what else we do.

Sam Freeman

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($517,000)
• How acquired: Via trade from Cardinals for PTBNL or $ on Mar 28, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2017, free agent in 2020
• Remarks: Got into 54 games, threw 38.1 innings.  31 hits, 13 ER, ERA of 3.05.   Given he’s under team control for 2016, I say it’s a lock he’ll be back.

Yovani Gallardo

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($14,000,000)
• How acquired: Via trade from Brewers with $4m for Marcos Diplan, Corey Knebel, & Luis Sardinas on Jan 19, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: Pitched well, if not lights out.  There’s some attraction as he’s FROM here, but given he’s a complete free agent, it wouldn’t surprise me if they let him test the waters.  He wasn’t strong enough to demand north of $15/16m a year, IMO.   Having said that, he might see it as an opportunity for a big payday.  I’d say it’s 50/50 that he comes back next year.  Hard to call that one.

Chi Chi Gonzalez

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500?)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2013, 1st round (originally drafted by Orioles in 2010, did not sign)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under Team control for awhile.
• Remarks: One of the upper crust pitching prospects in our organization.  Came up, and initially showed some brilliance and why people were so high on him.  Crashed a bit after that, and pitched more like a guy making his major league debut.  Still a huge name, and he’ll be backi n 2016, although in what capacity, I’m not sure.

Cole Freakin’ Hamels

• Contract Status: Signed through 2018 ($22.5m each year), with 2019 team option ($20m, $6m buyout)
• How acquired: Via trade from Phillies with Jake Diekman & $ for Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson, Nick Williams, Alec Asher, Jerad Eickhoff, & Matt Harrison on Jul 31, 2015.
• 2016 Contract Status: Signed for $22.5m (I’ve seen some sites say $23.5m, too).
• Remarks: I said before Hamels was traded here that I didn’t want the trade.  Not because I didn’t necessarily want Hamels, I didn’t want to give up a ton of stuff.  However, he’s here now, and when he got here, I got super excited about it.  Called him “Cole Freakin’Hamels” in the Facebook group, and the nickname stuck with a few people.  Stands to be staff ace, even if Darvish returns, likely cuz Darvish is coming off TJ surgery.

Derek Holland

• Contract Status: Signed through 2016, with team options for 2017 & 2018
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2006 (25th round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Signed for $10m
• Remarks: Spent almost all of 2014 on the disabled list, and came back strong at the end of that year.  Got hurt early in 2015, and came back then, but wasn’t nearly as good, in fact, downright bad at times.  He’s under contract for at least one more year, so the people screaming to get rid of him better get used to it.  He’s here for 2016 at a minimum.   The team has a $1.5m buyout for 2017, and a $1m buyout for 2018.  They could make him go away after 2016, but I have a feeling he’ll do well enough in 2016.  Assuming he can stay on the field!

Luke Jackson

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2010 (45th pick, 1st round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control for quite awhile.
• Remarks: Made Major League debut in 2015.  Had a handful of appearances.  Got into 7 games, threw 6.1 innings.  Difficult to truly evaluate that.  Gut feeling says he’ll start season in AAA, but could reappear later in the year.
• Special Note: Get a haircut.  :)

Keone Kela

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2012 (12th round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control for quite awhile.
• Remarks: Made major league debut in 2015, and was used a lot.  In fact, so much so, they sent him to AAA to “rest” for a bit.  He got into 68 games, that’s a lot for a rookie reliever.  Showed a lot in his first season, he’ll be back.

Phil Klein

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($509,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2011 (30th round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, fa in 2021
• Remarks: Not terribly good in 2015, got into 11 games, threw 17.1 innings.  But allowed 13ER, 10 walks, 23 hits.  ERA was 6.75.  Will have to do better than that if he wants back in 2016.

Colby Lewis

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($4m)
• How acquired: Signed as a free agent on Jan 19, 2010 (signed several short contracts since then)
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: Cobra had a career year in 2015.  Went 17-9, and 204.2IP.  ERA was a tad high at 4.66, but WHIP wasn’t awful, and you can’t argue with the team leader in wins.  Seems to want to stay here, so my money is on him re-signing for 2016.  In fact, I’d give him a 2yr deal for 2017 as well.   Slot him as #3 or #4 depending on whether or not we re-sign Gallardo too.

Nick Martinez

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($515,000)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2011 (18th round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2017, fa in 2020
• Remarks: Went 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA over 125IP.  Before I looked up his numbers, I had him penciled in as “regressed”, but that’s not actually true.  Will probably compete for #5 spot in spring training.  If not, he’s high on the callup list for reinforcements, I suspect.

Ross Ohlendorf

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Signed as a free agent on January 23, 2015 (released and re-signed in Aug 2015)
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: Was servicable.  Pitched in 21 games, so wasn’t the most used, but was a cog going down the stretch at the end of the year.  3.28ERA, 60.1 IP, 56H, 22ER.  Decent numbers.  Coin flip if he comes back.  Don’t have a strong feeling here either way.

Spencer Patton

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($508,500)
• How acquired: Signed as a free agent on Feb 27, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, FA in 2021
• Remarks: Got into 27 games with the Rangers in 2015.  24IP, but 24ER, for an ERA of 9.   He’s under team control, so he’s cheap.  I suspect he’ll get resigned, and will be depth in AAA.

Martin Perez

• Contract Status: Signed through 2017, w/team options for 18-20
• How acquired: Signed as an amateur free agent from Venezuela on Jul 2, 2007
• 2016 Contract Status: Will make $2.9m.
• Remarks: Given he’s signed for two years guaranteed, plus a THREE club options on the years after that, he’s obviously not going anywhere.   He makes $2.9m in 16, $4.4m in 17.  18 is a $6m option w/$2.45m buyout.  19 is a $7.5m option w/$750k buyout, and 20 is a $9m option w/$250k buyout.   His numbers won’t stick out, because of the time he missed in 2015.  However, he’s shown great promise before getting hurt, and you could still see the brilliance at times in 2015.  Hopefully he figures it out in 2016.

Anthony Ranaudo

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($508,500)
• How acquired: Via trade with Boston Red Sox for Robbie Ross on Jan 27, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, FA in 2021
• Remarks: Only appeared in four games this year – 15.1IP, but allowed 13ER in that time.  ERA of 7.63, after having an ERA of 4.81 with Boston in 2014.  Needs more work, IMO.  Be in minor leagues in 2016 is my guess.

Tanner Scheppers

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($515,200)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2009 (1st round, 44th pick)
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration eligible for first time, FA in 2019
• Remarks: Well, it didn’t go well for Tanner in 2015.  After the starter experiment in 2014, he seemed to get worse in 2015 in relief, as he was constantly blowing leads.  In the Facebook group, we pretty much torched him for that, but his numbers aren’t as bad overall as some people on this list.   It’s easy to say he won’t be back, but he won’t exactly break the bank in first year of arbitration given the numbers he has.  I suspect he’ll get resigned for 2016, but go to the minors, and would REALLY have to prove himself to make the big club again.

Shawn Tolleson

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($519,700)
• How acquired: Selected off waivers from Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov 20, 2013
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration eligible for first time
• Remarks: Ended the season as the Rangers closer, and did a pretty respectable job of it.  I suspect it will be his job going into the 2016 season, and given he’s arb eligible, will probably get a bump in salary as well.

Lisalverto Bonilla (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($508,500)
• How acquired: Via trade from Phillies with Josh Lindblom for Michael Young and $ on Dec 9, 2012.
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, FA in 2021.
• Remarks: Spent the entire season on the disabled list.  Given he’s under team control, he will be resigned, but given he missed a whole year, I think it’s safe to say if he’s healthy, he starts in the minors.

Alex Claudio (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($508,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2010 (27th round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, FA in 2021
• Remarks: Same remarks as Lisalverto Bonilla.  :)

Yu Darvish (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2017 ($10m in 2015)
• How acquired: Purchased from Nippon Ham Fighters on Jan 28, 2012.
• 2016 Contract Status: $10m
• Remarks: Spent the entire 2015 season on the DL with Tommy John.  He’s expected to come back in 2016, but Tommy John is an iffy thing to return from.  Still, he’s young, determined, I wouldn’t put it past him to be right back where he was. Coupled with Hamels, it’ll make a hell of a 1/2 punch.  Gotta get healthy, first.   He’s signed through 2017 ($10m in 2016, and $11m in 2017).  2017 could be a player option, but unlikely due to missing a year.  If he does well in 2016, I suspect they’ll revisit his contract next offseason.

Nick Tepesch (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($517,760)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick in 2010 (14th round)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2017, FA in 2020
• Remarks: Another guy who has been out a whole year, so it’s unknown what will happen in 2016.  Since he’s under control, he’ll get resigned, but I say it’s probably the minors.

Catchers

Robinson Chirinos

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($518,290)
• How acquired: Via trade with Tampa Bay for $ on Apr 8, 2013
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration Eligible for first time, FA in 2019
• Remarks: Our catching hasn’t exactly been lights out since Pudge stopped playing here (and that’s been a LONG TIME).  Our best catching prospect (Alfaro) was traded to Philly for Cole Hamels.  Unless something really unexpected happens, I expect Chirinos to be resgined to be our #1 catcher.  Given it is his first year of arb eligibility, I suspect he’ll want a lot more, knowing we don’t have a ton of catching options.

Carlos Corporan

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($975,000)
• How acquired: Via trade with Houston Astros for Akeem Bostick on Jan 21, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration Eligible in 2016, FA in 2018
• Remarks: Pretty uneventful, only played in 33 games.  He’s up for arbitration, and given he was making just under $1m, I would be surprised if he comes back in 2016.

Chris Gimenez

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 (Unknown)
• How acquired: As a Free Agent on Nov 20, 2014
• 2016 Contract Status: Notes show he’s arb eligible for 2016 & 2017, but he was a free agent. I’m a little unsure here.
• Remarks: An OK backup.  Strikes me as Taylor Teagarden II, only Gimenez can hit a little better.  Our catching is way up in the air, I suspect he’ll be back only if we can’t find something better in 2016.

Bobby Wilson

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($750,000)
• How acquired: Off Waivers from Tampa Bay on July 31, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: First year of arbitration, FA in 2018
• Remarks: Made some noise, and endeared himself towards the fans when he came over in a lesser move at the trade deadline.  I suspect it is either Wilson or Gimenez who comes back with Chirinos unless we can find a better option out there.

Infield

Hanser Alberto

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Signed as an amateur free agent from Domician Republic on Nov 23, 2009
• 2016 Contract Status: Unknown, but I *THINK* he’s a Free Agent
• Remarks: When Beltre went down late, he made a great backup.  He’s been in the organization for some time now, finally got called up in 2015.  Given he was signed as an amateur free agent, I’m unclear if all the arbitration stuff applies to him.  He could be a free agent, but I suspect he’ll be resigned given how he did coming down the stretch.

Elvis Andrus

• Contract Status: Signed through 2022 w/2023 team option
• How acquired: Via trade with Atlanta Braves with Beau Jones, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison & Jarrod Saltamacchia for Ron Mahay & Mark Teixeira on July 31, 2007.
• 2016 Contract Status: Signed for $15m
• Remarks: Well, Elvis was the goat of the 2015 playoffs.  He had some shaky infield work early on this season, but after the All-Star break, he got it together, and didn’t realy fall apart defensively again until “the 7th inning”.  Ever since he signed his big contract, he’s been an enigma.  He’s not lived up to it for sure.  Not sure what to say about that part of it.
• Remarks 2: For everyone that wants to “dump him” or “trade him” or what, you have to realize what you’re asking.  Other people won’t want him for the same reasons you want to get rid of him.  Couple with his contract status, and he’s pretty darned immovable.  HE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.  This is what he’s making for the next several years: 2016: $15m, 2017: $15m, 2018: $15m, 2019: $15m, 2020: $15m, 2021: $14m, 2022: $14m, 2023: $15m club option.  That’s a massive contract to try and move.  Unless we eat it all, he’s not going anywhere.

Adrian Beltre

• Contract Status: Signed through 2016 ($18m in 2015)
• How acquired: As a Free Agent on Jan 5, 2011
• 2016 Contract Status: Signed for $16m
• Remarks: Future Hall of Famer.  2016 is technically an option year that was picked up.  He’s a FA in 2017, but I don’t think it will come to that.  Both he and the Rangers owners have made noise about “retire a Ranger”, so something will happen.

Prince Fielder

• Contract Status: Signed through 2020 ($24m in 2015)
• How acquired: via trade with Detroit Tigers with cash for Ian Kinsler on Nov 20, 2013
• 2016 Contract Status: $24m (although we don’t pay all of it)
• Remarks: After being hurt almost all of 2014, he bounced back in 2015, but seemed to run out of gas at the end of the season.  Given we are paying about $18m for him per season, and not $24m, it’s a bit more palatable.  He was way better in 2015 than he was in 2014, but that was nearly impossible not to be.  If he projects upwards in 2016 again, it’ll be nice.  I don’t think we’re getting 40HR, and 135RBI from him, but some decent power will be acceptable.

Joey Gallo

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick (1st round, 2012)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control for quite awhile
• Remarks: Made his major league debut earlier in 2015, and we saw instantly why he’s so highly rated.  His power is stupidly huge.  I mean wow.  He also showed his major downside in that he strikes out WAY WAY more than he should.  It’s kind of a norm anymore that power hitters strike out a lot.  But not THIS MUCH.   He had 108 at bats in the majors in 2015, and struck out 57 times.  That’s a 50% rate!   In the minors in 2015, he had 321 at bats.  and struck out 139 times.  That’s better than the 50%, but still way too high.  He REALLY needs to work on that.  I think right now his path to the majors is blocked with Beltre at third, and if we resign Mitch, by Moreland/Fielder at 1B.  There’s still time, though.

Mitch Moreland

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($2.95m)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick (17th round, 2007)
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration eligible in 2016, FA in 2017
• Remarks:  Is an outstanding fielding first baseman.  So much so, that Prince Fielder came and volunteered to be the DH all the time, as he said “we’re better with Mitch in the field”.  He’s been an enigma for sure.  He’s got power (not Gallo type power, but power anyway).  But he’s never put together that ONE BIG SEASON that will cement him as the first baseman.  There’s always that nag in the background.  You WANT him to succeed – you want him to grasp it, but it’s like…. UGHHH.. just out of range.  He did have 515 plate appearances in 2015, which is a career high.  Had 131 hits, which was a career high. 85 RBI – career high.  Tied for career high with 23HR.   I think the Rangers need to figure out the 1B/3B Fielder/Moreland/Beltre logjam, and where Gallo fits in there.  Moreland is going to get a massive payday from someone in the next couple of years.  I’d LIKE IT to be here.  But it’s a big puzzle fitting all those guys in, that’s for sure.

Mike Napoli

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($16m)
• How acquired: Via trade with Red Sox with cash for PTBNL
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: While his official salary for 2015 was $16m, there was just under $5m left at the time of the trade, and we got $3.5m from Boston with it, so we only paid about $1.5m for the couple of months he was here.  Having said, that Napoli is a bench guy now.  He hasn’t caught in years, so that is NOT HAPPENING.  When we got him I assumed it was just for the 2015 run and that’s it.  However since the Rangers exit from the playoffs, I’ve read where there’s a possibility he might be resigned in 2016 for the same kind of role.  We’ll see, I guess.

Rougned Odor

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($513,850)
• How acquired: As an amateur free agent on Jan 3, 2011
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, FA in 2021
• Remarks: He seized the 2B job in 2014 late, and then opened 2015 in the job.  He tanked, and was sent down for awhile.  When he returned, he was lights out.  One of the few guys who really benefited by “time in the minors”.   He goes into 2016 as the starting 2B again, I’m sure.  Can’t see why he wouldn’t.

Kyle Blanks (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($1m, I think)
• How acquired: As a free agent on Dec 15, 2014
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: He was up in the majors briefly before getting hurt, and ending his season.  When he was here, I liked his play and his power (and he had a .313 avg).  However, I’ll be surprised if he’s invited back in 2016.  This strikes me as one of the “late off season signings” if he comes back at all.

Jurickson Profar (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($509,500)
• How acquired: As an amateur free agent on Jul 2, 2009
• 2016 Contract Status: Arbitration eligible, FA in 2020
• Remarks: Hasn’t played in the majors since 2013.  When he was here, he was as high a prospect as you could get.  I know most people want to throw him out, but he’s under control for dirt cheap for a couple of years.  Let him play in the minors, and if for some reason he gets back to anywhere near what he is capable of, it’ll be a great player for us.   He’ll be resigned for sure.  Remember, he ALMOST made it back to the majors in late 2015.  While I don’t expect him to open with us in 2016, he’ll probably pop up somewhere during the season.

Outfield

Shin-Soo Choo

• Contract Status: Signed through 2020 ($14m in 2015)
• How acquired: As a free agent on Dec 27, 2013
• 2016 Contract Status: Signed for $20m
• Remarks: Until the middle half of the 2015 season, Choo has mostly been a bust.  Not COMPLETELY worthless, but a far cry from even the player he was in Cleveland.  That is until a mid season chat with his wife, which screwed his head on correctly.  Then he started raking in the second half of 2015, and was the player we thought he had signed.  While the Rangers have never had a female coach before, I’m all for keeping Choo’s wife around.  :)

Delino DeShields Jr.

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Via Rule V draft from Houston on Dec 11, 2014
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control for quite awhile.
• Remarks: You don’t expect Rule 5 guys to make that big of a mark on the team.  Most of them are a crapshoot, and like 90% of them get returned to their team.  This time, though, we hit gold.  DeShields basically displaced a few guys who were battling for CF time, and really (in my opinion) took hold of the job.  He should go into 2016 as the starting CF.  One of the more shrewd moves, but I doubt even JD and his guys expected him to play as well as he has.

Josh Hamilton

• Contract Status: Signed through 2017
• How acquired: Via trade with Anaheim Angels and a TON OF CASH for PTBNL or cash (realistically for nothing)
• 2016 Contract Status: Officially, salary is $30m for 2015.  THE RANGERS PAY ZERO.
• Remarks: If you’re reading this page, you know Josh Hamilton’s story.  You know what happened both when he left here and when he came back.  It’s virtually obscene that for a guy with a $30 million salary, the Rangers pay absolutely zero of it.  Then we only pay $2m in 2017, when he also has a $30m salary.  At those numbers, how can you NOT take a flyer?  He’ll be here for 2016 and 2017.  Hopefully a proper offseason for him will result in a productive season in 2016.

Leonys Martin

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($3.75m)
• How acquired: As an amateur free agent on May 4, 2011
• 2016 Contract Status: Arb eligible, FA in 2019
• Remarks: He has never really lived up to his promise.  Hasn’t been awful, but didn’t grab the job like he could have.  Was given numerous attempts, and kind of fell behind.  Especially once Delino DeShields came onto the scene.  He was left off the postseason roster in 2015, and was apparently so pissed off at that, he refused to report to the Arizona fall leagues for additional work.  Officially he’s arbitration eligible for 2016, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we’ve seen the last of him.

Ryan Rua

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($508,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick (17th rd, 2011)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control, arb eligible in 2018, FA in 2021
• Remarks: A good fourth outfielder.  You always need guys like that.  Previously, this role was David Murphy, more or less.  He’s cheap, and he’s decent, and he’s under team control, so yeah.  He’ll be back in 2016.  :)

Ryan Strausborger

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($507,500)
• How acquired: Rangers draft pick (16th rd, 2010)
• 2016 Contract Status: Under team control for quite awhile
• Remarks: I confess that even though he was in the majors and played 31 games this year, I don’t have much of a read on him.  Not a lot offensively as he bat EXACTLY .200.  Given he’s under team control, he probably goes to AAA in 2016.  Probably not coming back to big club unless some other problems crop up.

Drew Stubbs

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($5.825m)
• How acquired: As a free agent on Aug 24, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: Stubbs’ $5.8m salary was covered by the Rockies, his team for most of 2015.  The last few weeks of 2015 when he was with the Rangers was a pro-rated minimum so I’m unclear what his actual Rangers salary was.  He played in 27 games with us, and had just 26 at bats. His batting average was a pretty bad .095.  But he was mostly used as a late inning defensive replacement.  I’ll be rather surprised if he’s back in 2016.

Will Venable

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($4.25m)
• How acquired: via trade with San Diego Padres for Marcus Greene & Jon Edwards on Aug 18, 2015
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: Only margianlly better than Stubbs.  Played in 37 games, had 82 plate appearances, and just 12 hits.  Batting average of .182.  No HR, just 3 RBI.  You get the idea.  He won’t be back in 2016.

Antoan Richardson (on 60 day DL)

• Contract Status: Signed through 2015 ($600,000)
• How acquired: as a free agent on Dec 11, 2014
• 2016 Contract Status: Free Agent
• Remarks: Who?
• More detailed Remarks: He’s played a total of 22 games in the major leagues.  13 in 2014 with NYY, and 9 in 2011 with ATL.  Was on DL all of 2015, and has also bounced around with the Orioles, the Giants, the Twins since 2005.  Won’t be here next year.

Summary

That’s my run down of everyone on the 40 man roster for the Rangers, as well as some of the guys currently on the 60 day DL.  That’s 7 guys on the 60 day DL.  If I had to look at all those, I’d say 5 of the 7 are likely to come back, which means that at some point, they’re gonna have to drop five guys from the 40 man to make room.  That shouldn’t be too hard, but stashing guys on the 60 man comes with a price when you want to bring them back.

For those who read my stuff and wonder where I get all this info, I culled all of it from three places.

1. The current 40 man roster page on the Rangers site here.
2. Cot’s Baseball Contracts page.  AN INVALUABLE source for contract info.  Love this site.
3. Baseball-reference.com – What more can you say about this place?

I don’t use comments too much anymore on my site, but you’re welcome to make one.   There’s a discussion thread for this story on the Texas Rangers Facebook page, so if you want to join in, click here.

Also, if you’d like some more detail on the comings and goings of the 25 man roster for the 2015 season, check out this story I maintained through the year.  :)

Thanks for reading, and Go Rangers!

P.S.  Do you know your numbers?